We have a beautiful fall here in Michigan. The leaves changing color and the weather getting cooler makes working outside an enjoyable experience. It also means it is time to get the rake out and deal with leaves in an environmentally friendly manner.

When possible- I feel it is best to use a mulching mower to mulch the leaves into to grass. This works well for moderate leaf accumulation- up to a couple inches of leaves. If you have certain areas that get a significant leaf fall you can rake or blow some of the leaves to distribute them more evenly before mulching.

Composting is another good option for homeowners. If there is a dense tree population gathering up the leaves and placing them into a compost bin or pile will give good compost in a few years. Care should be taken with some leaves like Black Walnut that have toxins that may not bee good for gardens. Turning the compost pile and adding green matter can produce compost faster.

Sometimes in an urban environment with many trees neither of these options are feasible. Here in Ann Arbor, the fall leaf collection we once had is no longer available. We still have a few options including using compost carts, lawn debris bags, and hauling the leaves off to the compost center. This is more work than raking the leaves into the street but it reduces some of the problems that occurred when it was done improperly.

If your municipality does not offer leaf collection or a place to drop off leaves there may be other options available to you. If there are community gardens in your area they may love to have your leaves to make compost. Some organic farmers may take leaves. You can also ask friends or neighbors if they would like to start to compost- especially if they live in a neighborhood without many trees.

Dealing with leaves can be an enjoyable project while offering quality compost for gardens. Enjoy the beautiful weather and get out often to deal with the fallen leaves. Waiting until the leaves have all fallen can kill grass and make it a much more tedious task- especially after a rain, frost, or snow.